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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-24-17 Public Comment -R. Canfield -ShortTermRentalsMr Mayor & Commissioners, My name is Richard Canfield; I live at 726 South Third Avenue. I wish to begin by expressing my thanks to those responsible citizens who are members of the Inter Neighborhood Council for their recommendations for regulating Short Term Rentals. Also, I thank to the City staff for responding to many of the INC recommendations in the proposed regulations: notification, licensing, inspection, standards, and enforcement, and fees. I see a fundamental element of the INC recommendations that is missing from the staff’s proposed regulations: despite best-practices examples from other cities, the staff has rejected all regulations that cap the density of STRs. This obviously conflicts with Bozeman Municipal Code Sec. 38.08.010 Section A, which states that the intent and purpose of the residential zoning districts is to establish areas within the city that are primarily residential in character. The code specifically requires that developments within traditional R-1 and R-S single-family neighborhoods respect their residential character and quality. Obviously none of this is possible if the density of STRs can grow without caps. For these reasons, I respectfully object to the staff’s rejection of density caps, which are being used in other best-practices cities. It's a detail, but an important one, that density caps are crucial for licensing on a local basis (for example, within 200 feet — like notification — or per block), and not citywide. The lack of a regulation that limits the local density of STRs will lead to degraded livability in any locale where the number of STRs is above an appropriate density cap, for example another STR within 200 feet. I also respectfully object to the staff’s proposed change of Authorized Uses for STRs in R-S, R-1, and R-2. For these three zoning districts, STRs are currently not a permitted use, requiring a Conditional Use Permit. The proposed change directly conflicts with Bozeman Municipal Code Sec. 38.08.010 Section A, which requires a variety of housing types and arrangements within the community while providing a basic level of predictability. Many of us counted on this predictability when we bought our homes within a given zoning district. I close by noting that the INC has recommended against allowing Type-3 STRs in traditional R-1 and R-S single-family neighborhoods. I share the INC’s concerns about people or companies buying multiple homes to use primarily as STRs. I share their concern with STRs with absentee ownership of any form. I call attention to the fact that Bozeman Municipal Code’s Sec. 38.08.010 Section A statement of intent and purpose applies all residential zones, not only R-1 and R- S. I encourage the City to reject Type-3 STRs in all zoning districts.